marty2086 wrote:Simple question is, if the fella doesn't want to go then why is he going?

If he wanted to stay that much he would have a lovely new Munster contract. We had Ruan Pienaar offered a truck load of money to up sticks and move to France and he stayed, only to get shafted but thats another story altogether.

Were his performances in the 6Ns his way of trying to get a big payday out of the IRFU?

Jeez you lads have some serious chips on shoulders.

Quite ironic when you have Munstermen wanting the IRFU to stump up the cash for your team to keep a player

There is no chip Im using Pienaar as an example, if someone wants to stay they will regardless of the money but Ryan it seems isn't one of those.

Somehow I think he'll stay at Munster and its all a ploy to get the IRFU to foot the bill rather than Munster since they are strapped for cash

Geen sport voor watjes wrote:Haven't seen much from Henderson lately to say we can't afford to lose him ( based on two games). Seen enough of him to think he is currently somewhere between being disinterested and a tub o lard. Still he might get excited about being picked for the british lions who knows

Not two games - two performances that Ryan couldn't touch. And he seemed to be getting back on track in the England game.

But yeah, he hasn't been great in early 2017. Maybe neither of them should have one.

Geen sport voor watjes wrote:Haven't seen much from Henderson lately to say we can't afford to lose him ( based on two games). Seen enough of him to think he is currently somewhere between being disinterested and a tub o lard. Still he might get excited about being picked for the british lions who knows

Not two games - two performances that Ryan couldn't touch. And he seemed to be getting back on track in the England game.

But yeah, he hasn't been great in early 2017. Maybe neither of them should have one.

Henderson had to make do with a plain old Ulster contract last time which still has a year to run

Don Alfonso wrote:You know. Out of the 47 appearances he has over nine years. Fifteen more than Henderson, at eight years younger.

Henderson has had 14 starts for Ireland. Most of his appearances were as a flanker, not a lock. He hasn't started a game at lock in the Champs Cup this season either, so why would the IRFU fund a contract for him - Ireland have more than enough backrows.

Don Alfonso wrote:You know. Out of the 47 appearances he has over nine years. Fifteen more than Henderson, at eight years younger.

Henderson has had 14 starts for Ireland. Most of his appearances were as a flanker, not a lock. He hasn't started a game at lock in the Champs Cup this season either, so why would the IRFU fund a contract for him - Ireland have more than enough backrows.

Because from next season the IRFU want him at lock, this is one of the reasons Ulster were allowed to sign Arno Botha to cover Henderson becoming a full time lock

marty2086 wrote:Simple question is, if the fella doesn't want to go then why is he going?

If he wanted to stay that much he would have a lovely new Munster contract. We had Ruan Pienaar offered a truck load of money to up sticks and move to France and he stayed, only to get shafted but thats another story altogether.

Were his performances in the 6Ns his way of trying to get a big payday out of the IRFU?

Jeez you lads have some serious chips on shoulders.

Quite ironic when you have Munstermen wanting the IRFU to stump up the cash for your team to keep a player

There is no chip Im using Pienaar as an example, if someone wants to stay they will regardless of the money but Ryan it seems isn't one of those.

Somehow I think he'll stay at Munster and its all a ploy to get the IRFU to foot the bill rather than Munster since they are strapped for cash

Munster have very few central contracts - POM, Murray & Earls, so they are dead right to want a few more. As it is, Munster is carrying CJ & Zebo's contracts.

Good news for Munster on the sponsorship front - Bank of Ireland has renewed its sponsorship until 2023. (Thats right, 2023!). Bank of Ireland have also appointed David Wallace as Business Development Manager for the Munster Region. Conor Murray & Peter O'Mahony are brand ambassadors for 17/18 season.

Don Alfonso wrote:You know. Out of the 47 appearances he has over nine years. Fifteen more than Henderson, at eight years younger.

Henderson has had 14 starts for Ireland. Most of his appearances were as a flanker, not a lock. He hasn't started a game at lock in the Champs Cup this season either, so why would the IRFU fund a contract for him - Ireland have more than enough backrows.

A) I don't give a Jiminy Toss whether Hendo has a central contract. That was just pure whataboutery from a Munster fan weeping over the mistreatment of Ryan.

B) Do you think that he's as likely to start at back row as lock now? Or has the position that Ireland typically employ him in changed? Did he play at back row during the RWC? In SA? This six nations?

Don Alfonso wrote:You know. Out of the 47 appearances he has over nine years. Fifteen more than Henderson, at eight years younger.

Henderson has had 14 starts for Ireland. Most of his appearances were as a flanker, not a lock. He hasn't started a game at lock in the Champs Cup this season either, so why would the IRFU fund a contract for him - Ireland have more than enough backrows.

A) I don't give a Jiminy Toss whether Hendo has a central contract. That was just pure whataboutery from a Munster fan weeping over the mistreatment of Ryan.

B) Do you think that he's as likely to start at back row as lock now? Or has the position that Ireland typically employ him in changed? Did he play at back row during the RWC? In SA? This six nations?

A) Ryan will be a loss to Irish rugby Fullstop.b) He will have to start at lock I suppose. Mind you, a Toner/Henderson partner was not great in the Six Nations. His best game by far was when he was partnered with Ryan.

Henderson will be a full time lock next year with de Merwe departure and Coetzee and Botha available in the back row.

Also Ulster have better prospects coming through in the backrow than in the 2nd row

All the 2nd row lifting next year will be by Henderson, Treadwell, AOC, Browne DiackIn the backrow you will see a few youngsters getting games with only the 2 saffers, Reidy and Henry good enough of the establish players.

Geen sport voor watjes wrote:Haven't seen much from Henderson lately to say we can't afford to lose him ( based on two games). Seen enough of him to think he is currently somewhere between being disinterested and a tub o lard. Still he might get excited about being picked for the british lions who knows

You are talking crap - his Ireland performances were fine.

He was useless against Cardiff but then so were most of the Ulster team.

As to central contract I posted, when he had his latest renewal, that there was something about him getting a central contract, when he becomes a full time lock.I thought that might be the current season but clearly it will be next season.With Ryan off I am as certain as I can be that we will hear an announcement to that effect sometime during the 17-18 season.

So Mike Ross has announced he will be hanging up his boots at the end of the season. He was a crucial fixture in our team for many a year, summed up by this stat I came across this morning. He started at 3 for every 6 nations game from 2011-2015.

In his 14 year career he has acheived;

2 6 nation titles3 Heiniken Cups2 Pro 12 titles

We were incredibly lucky that both Hayes and Ross had relatively few injuries considering the lack of depth we have had at tighthead. Hopefully we are seeing an end to this reliance on one player.

We will forgive him one game given the rest of the team on the day weren't great. Having said that has been great for us all year in helping us get to two semi finals and hopefully a final. Worked really hard this year not just blowing on some overrated reputation

Don Alfonso wrote:Everyone forgotten about Donnacha Ryan going? Not surprising, I suppose.... Seemed to be on the plane during the Sarries match.

Is Ryan definite? I get the feeling Munster didn't want to blow any of their budget on him if they could get the IRFU to foot the bill but are keen to keep him so that may mean they will spend some money on him